HELP! 944 Rubber Tail Question

[fil911carrera]

My 944 lives outside and the other day I spotted that a small section (about 10cm) of the rear rubber tail is standing away from the glass. I have cleaned out all the stuff from the drain holes but noticed that there is more under the rubber.

I would like to take the tail off to clean it out and seal it as I am worried that water could get in there then freeze and expand causing more damage.
My question is: how difficult is it to remove and then refit the rubber tail element? Are there any special tools required? Any sealant? Or anything else?

 

[GPF]

Hi,

From memory the only special tools you need are to undo the nuts that hold the side trims on (I think they are called snake bits, they are just like a flat bladed screwdriver with a notch cut out of the centre) - although you probably won't need to take those bits off anyway.

Just look on the inside of the hatch and you will see the nuts that need undoing and it should be quite straight forward.

 

[zcacogp]

Oh, is this a problem? I noticed the rubber tail on mine was not stuck all the way 'round but didn't let it bother me ...

Let me know how you get on. What will you re-seal it with?


Oli.

 

[peanut]

if the raised part is above one of the two drain slits that drain the glass then it could be due to rust.
There is a band of steel in the rear rubber spoiler to give it shape and form and something to bolt to through the glass. If it rusts near the slits it will expand quite a lot . Ask me how I know []

 

[fil911carrera]

Thanks for the reply guys, I will be attempting it on Saturday, don't think there will be any sealant involved, as there only seem to be six screws holding the tail on. However I will clean all the stuff out, dry the surface and put some grease in there for a better seal. I think the rubber might be pulled off the band of steel Peanut as it's more in the middle ""that's what happens when your girlfriend slams the tailgate []

 

[zcacogp]

Hope you have a warm dry garage. Outside car maintenance in weather like this is done STRICTLY on a desperate-need-only basis ... []

Keep us posted with results. In fact, if you took some photos before, during and after then I'd be quite interested to look at them. I've never investigated how the spoiler fits on and suspect this is a job I may need to tackle sometime.


Oli.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: fil911carrera

I think the rubber might be pulled off the band of steel Peanut as it's more in the middle ""that's what happens when your girlfriend slams the tailgate []

Ouch ! [] it only happens once. Now I never let anyone shut the doors or hatch on mine []
ditto I'd be very interested if you can take some pics as I'll need to do mine soon.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: peanut

Ouch ! [] it only happens once. Now I never let anyone shut the doors or hatch on mine []
ditto I'd be very interested if you can take some pics as I'll need to do mine soon.

Perhaps a post in the technical articles section maybe.

 

[Fat Albert]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Hope you have a warm dry garage. Outside car maintenance in weather like this is done STRICTLY on a desperate-need-only basis ... []

Oli.

Tell me about it! Changed the rear pads on Sunday, suffered with some plate lift but a Grinder, hammer and copious amounts of copper grease sorted it....B-loody freezing though!

As an aside Halfords are doing a 'lifting kit' which contains a trolley jack, 2 axle stands, 2 chocks and the trolley for £39.99 at the moment, only £2 more than the trolley jack on it's own!

 

[peanut]

oooooh ........ who got a nice orange, colour coordinated creeper and axle stands for Chrimbo then !...[][][]

 

[robwright]

Ahh such a familiar sight for me Albert. A 944 with it's leg cocked in the air. Although with all that dirt you can hardly see your pink paintwork mate []

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Fat Albert

Tell me about it! Changed the rear pads on Sunday, suffered with some plate lift but a Grinder, hammer and copious amounts of copper grease sorted it....B-loody freezing though!

Working in the freezing cold, on a dirty car ... you're a tougher man than me, Fatty.

Bravo! []


Oli.

 

[fil911carrera]

Hehe, my cousin is putting together a 206 in our unit so it will have to be done outside [] On the upside however I do have a heat-gun to melt the ice []

Yes yes, it's not the only thing she managed to damage [] The roof sensor is playing up so you have to keep looking at the roof as it closes to make sure it doesn't go too far and snap the nylon cogs, but does she listen? noooooooo []

PS Will take some photos for you guys if the camera starts up [] today it was -7C so lets hope for sone sun tomorrow.

 

[Hilux]

I will be attempting it on Saturday

Brave chap but be careful, glass feels the cold too and a wrong move or a sharp tap near an edge and you`ll be hoovering it out of the boot []

 

[FistsOfHam]

ORIGINAL: fil911carrera

Thanks for the reply guys, I will be attempting it on Saturday, don't think there will be any sealant involved, as there only seem to be six screws holding the tail on. However I will clean all the stuff out, dry the surface and put some grease in there for a better seal. I think the rubber might be pulled off the band of steel Peanut as it's more in the middle ""that's what happens when your girlfriend slams the tailgate []

I have exactly the same on my 944S, was like it when I got it though so not sure what caused it but I'd like to sort it at some point. On my lux the rubber has lifted a bit on the passenger side where it meets the side trim which I'd also like to sort but both cars have much bigger problems to worry about at the moment.

 

[Pastry]

i removed and replaced my rear spoiler last easter, the only thing to be wary of is the plastic washers that sit between the tailgate rubber and glass falling out when you remove it. it gave an opportunity to clean up 20 years of crud. no sealant required; pretty sure if you tried to seal it the water would get in somehow anyway.